1. Melodic, Harmonic, and Rhythmic Dictation
  2. Module 9: Irregular Division and Syncopation

Module 9: Irregular Division and Syncopation

A triplet is a group of three even notes performed in the same time as two notes of equal value. Triplets are indicated with the number “3” and often have a slur or bracket above or below the notes.

a. Triplets

Rhythm 9A-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9A-1B

Rhythm 9A-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm Rhythm 8A-2A
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9A-2B

Rhythm 9A-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9A-3B

Rhythm 9A-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9A-4B

Rhythm 9A-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9A-5B

b. Duplets

This section has not been built yet and will be launched in 2022.

c. Syncopation Within a Measure (Intra-measure Syncopation)

This section has not been built yet and will be launched in 2022.

d. Syncopation Across a Barline (Inter-measure Syncopation)

This section has not been built yet and will be launched in 2022.

e. Triplets in Augmentation and Diminution

Rhythm 9E-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine thenumber of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9E-1B

Rhythm 9E-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9E-2B

Rhythm 9E-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 9/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 6
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9E-3B

Rhythm 9E-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature. Note that the rhythm is anacrusic.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9E-4B

Rhythm 9E-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 9/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 7
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9E-5B

f. Other Divisions of the Beat

Rhythm 9F-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9F-1B

Rhythm 9F-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9F-2B

Rhythm 9F-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 10
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9F-3B

Rhythm 9F-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm Rhythm 8D-4A
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9F-4B

Rhythm 9F-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9F-5B

Rhythm 9F-6

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 6
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9F-6B

g. Reading Complex Rhythms

Rhythm 9G-1

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 2/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9G-1B

Rhythm 9G-2

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 4/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 4
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9G-2B

Rhythm 9G-3

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 3/4
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9G-3B

Rhythm 8E-4

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9G-4B

Rhythm 9G-5

  1. Listen to the following rhythm.
  2. Name the time signature.
    3. 6/8
  3. Listen to the rhythm again. Determine the number of measures.
    4. 8
  4. Listen again. Notate only the rhythm.
    5. Rhythm_9G-5B
  1. Prepare your work space. Give yourself plenty of blank measures on a clean sheet of manuscript paper.
  2. Listen. Do not try to write while listening. Just listen.
  3. Listen again. Try to pick up the beat and determine whether it is divided simply (into two pieces) or compound (into three pieces).
  4. Determine meter by listening for patterns of strong and weak beats. Also listen for rhythmic clues such as longer notes (often, but not always, on strong beats) and harmonic changes accompanying the underlying melody (most music changes chords at a rate of one chord per measure). Come up with a logical meter signature.
  5. Verify your meter signature by singing or listening to the rhythm again.
  6. Listen again. Take a shorthand rhythmic notation as you listen or sing back the melody. Make sure you jump to each new measure as it occurs. If you get stuck in a measure, skip it and go back to finish it up on the next hearing.
  7. Translate your shorthand notation to standard notation.
  8. Double check your answer by singing what you have written and comparing it to what you remember.